Public warned about money-transfer phone scam

San Diego 
Police on Thursday issued a warning about a telephone scam that targets the elderly in which they are asked to wire money to Canada.

The unsuspecting person receives a call from someone claiming to be a grandson or a police officer, saying the grandson is in trouble with law enforcement in Canada and needs cash wired to a designated location, said Mónica Muñoz, a spokeswoman for the San Diego Police Department.

The caller tells the older person to be discreet and not involve other family members.

The scammer asks for a reference number for an electronic money transfer, and once the money is received, calls back and asks for more, Muñoz said.

San Diego police have investigated several similar scams that originated in Canada, with people losing between $2,000 to $85,000 per case, Muñoz said.

The spokeswoman said it was not known how the scammers pick their targets.

Victims are asked to notify both San Diego police at (619) 531-2000 and either the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at
www.phonebusters.com
or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Center at (888) 495-8501.

In Canada, more than 1,000 people have lost more than $3.5 million in such scams, Muñoz said.